Aku Aku

An Aku Aku is a sort of "familiar spirit" [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Isla de Pascua), although it carries none of the Christian-Judeo connotations that might be associated with the term "familiar spirit" and is instead a purely Polynesian spiritual entity, and as such is a very different thing. The term "familiar spirit" is only used to give Westerners a very broad outline of things, that they may then direct further inquiries in a more efficient manner.

Aku Aku as spiritual forces can be associated with individuals, groups, or even tracts of land, and possess power to alter the courses of people's lives through direct and indirect means. An Aku Aku that is defending some one, or some thing, is not to be taken lightly, or crossed, but instead must be treated with utmost respect and obeyance to its wishes.

As with many things of a mysteriously spiritual nature, anecdotes (oftentimes conflicting) abound, but hard empirical evidence is in woefully short supply. That said, those who believe and respect Aku Aku's take them quite seriously.